Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-17
rhs Convention RlIls.

The chances of the passage OF bill In !
this Legislature giving to the people an
opportunity TO express their opinion at
the polls upon the necessity for oonsti-
tutional Convention are in serious danger
Of bsing frittered away BY the conflict Of
opinion respecting the time for an cleo
ton.
The present Legislature is composed
largely Of men who are entirely capable
Of doing their own thinking, and many
Of them are in the habit of doing so.
The fact that there are larger number
Of forceful men in the two bodies than is
usual, adds TO the danger of too tenacious
an adherence TO individual views upon
points where, In order to accomplish any
thing, there must be an adjustment of
differing opinions. II is hardly possible,
in view of the public expressions OF |
opinion on this subject during the last |
campaign, and since the meeting of the
Legislature, to doubt the existence of
strong and widespread desire for de-
anitive action on the sdbiect at this time.
We doubt if any member of the General
Assembly, If he he candid with himself,
Ia not entirely satisfied, in the first place,
that the large majority of the people of
the State are convinced of the necessity of
H--T 7titutionsl reform and are ne- satis-
tied that to obtain It by legislative action
u impracticabls. Upon this latter SUBJ
ject there has been very decided change
in public opinion within the last two
years. Even the opponents of present
action do not deny that there is popular
demand for II, and hence, there is
danger of efforts to defeat any real step
towards q constitutional convention by
putting forward and advocating bills
which are either sure of defeat, or which,
II carried, would not accomplish the re-
suit. It will, therefore, be necessary for
the real and earnest advocates of action
TO be constantly on their guard against
such efforts.
If 1t be assumed that at the election to
be held there must be cast for conven
ton votes equal to the number of the
majority as ascertained by the election OF
1882, then it is probably useless to con.
slider any bill providing for special cleo
ton on any day other than that of The
general election. Probably no one will
any experience in our politics believes tina
such result would be secured. The onl!
practicable measure among those now be
fore the Legislature is that which pro
yides for the taking of the sense of the
people on the day of the general election
and by vote for or against the conyen
ton printed on the general ticket to b
voted. Such an election would be
special election to determine this questio
lust as much as if held upon some otht
day.
A good illustration of the fact tn
ordering a special election to be he
upon the day of the general election,
TO be found in the case of special elt
lions for representative in Congress
case of a vacancy by death, resignati
or otherwise. In that case, If the spec
election is appointed to be held. on
day of the general election, as may
done, the same person might be vot
for both to fill the vacancy and for
full term following, and such vo
would be printed on the same ticket, a
the election would be a special elect
for member of Congress to fill
vacancy, and thus the same person wol
be elected on the same day by votes nj
the same ticket to two ofices-one by
general election, the other by spet
election. This will illustrate b
siear Il is that il IL not
DIV mon which = 90 held, but the 81
acter of the legislation under which
held that makes an election either spe
or general. We should prefer a meas
different from any now before the Gen
Assembly, but we recognize the fact
there must be yielding of indiyit
views and the members who are hone
in favor of action must beware of imp,
ing that result. To avoid this they she
unite on single measure and lot that
one which will not defeat the end wi
it processes to further The people
not stand any fooling on this busin
and the politician who tries it will
the process equal to monkeying with
buzz saw or tampering with the hind
of o mule.